Memory system and operating method thereof

ABSTRACT

A memory system including: a memory device having an open block and a closed memory block; a page counting unit counting the number of program pages in the open block whenever a data is programmed in the open block, and counting the number of valid pages of the closed memory block; a valid page decrease amount counting unit calculating a total sum of valid pages decreased in the closed memory block before and after a map update operation; and a garbage collecting unit performing a garbage collection operation onto a victim block when the number of free blocks included in the memory device is less than a first threshold value and greater than a second threshold value, and a ratio of the number of the program pages in the open block to the total sum of the valid pages decreased is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold value.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0077802, filed on Jul. 4, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a memory system, and more particularly, to a memory system that may efficiently perform a garbage collection operation and a method for operating the memory system.

2. Description of the Related Art

The computer environment paradigm has shifted to ubiquitous computing, which enables computing systems to be used anytime and anywhere. As a result, use of portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, and laptop computers has rapidly increased. These portable electronic devices generally use a memory system having one or more memory devices for storing data. A memory system may be used as a main memory device or an auxiliary memory device of a portable electronic device.

Memory systems provide excellent stability, durability, high information access speed, and low power consumption since they have no moving parts, as compared with a hard disk device. Examples of memory systems having such advantages include universal serial bus (USB) memory devices, memory cards having various interfaces, and solid state drives (SSDs).

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a memory system that may efficiently perform a garbage collection operation.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a memory system includes: a memory device including an open block and a closed memory block; a page counting unit suitable for counting the number of program pages in the open block whenever a data is programmed in the open block, and counting the number of valid pages of the closed memory block; a valid page decrease amount counting unit suitable for calculating a total sum of valid pages decreased in the closed memory block before and after a map update operation; and a garbage collecting unit suitable for performing a garbage collection operation onto a victim block when the number of free blocks included in the memory device is less than a first threshold value and greater than a second threshold value, and a ratio of the number of the program pages in the open block to the total sum of the valid pages decreased is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold value.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating a memory system includes: counting the number of program pages in an open block whenever a data is programmed in the open block, and counting the number of valid pages of a closed memory block; calculating a total sum of valid pages decreased in the closed memory block before and after a map update operation; and performing a garbage collection operation onto a victim block when the number of free blocks included in the memory device is less than a first threshold value and greater than a second threshold value, and a ratio of the number of the program pages in the open block to the total sum of the valid pages decreased is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold value.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a memory system includes: a memory device including a plurality of memory blocks, which includes an open block and a closed memory block; and a controller suitable for controlling the memory device to program the memory device, wherein the controller: programs pages of the open block and decreases the number of valid pages in the closed memory block; and selectively performs a garbage collection operation based on the number of free blocks, and a ratio of the number of program pages of the open block to the decreased number of valid pages in the closed memory block.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a data processing system including a memory system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a memory device employed in the memory system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a memory cell array of a memory block in the memory device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a memory device of a memory system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a memory system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a memory system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a garbage collection operation based on a first threshold value and a second threshold value.

FIG. 8 illustrates a garbage collection operation based on a third threshold value and a fourth threshold value.

FIGS. 9 to 17 are diagrams illustrating exemplary applications of a data processing system in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. Throughout the disclosure, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures and embodiments of the present invention.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, and the like may be used herein to identify various elements, these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element from another element that otherwise have the same or similar names. Thus, a first element described below could also be termed as a second or third element without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale and, in some instances, proportions may have been exaggerated to clearly illustrate features of the embodiments. When an element is referred to as being connected or coupled to another element, it should be understood that the former can be directly connected or coupled to the latter, or electrically connected or coupled to the latter via one or more intervening elements.

It will be further understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected to”, or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element, or one or more intervening elements may be present. In addition, it will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “between” two elements, it may be the only element between the two elements, or one or more intervening elements may also be present.

The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention.

As used herein, singular forms are intended to include the plural forms and vice versa, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated elements but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains in view of the present disclosure. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the present disclosure and the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process structures and/or processes have not been described in detail to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

It is also noted, that in some instances, as would be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, a feature or element described in connection with one embodiment may be used singly or in combination with other features or elements of another embodiment, unless otherwise specifically indicated.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a data processing system 100 including a memory system 110 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the data processing system 100 may include a host 102 operatively coupled to the memory system 110.

The host 102 may include any of a variety of portable electronic devices such as a mobile phone, a MP3 player and a laptop computer, or any of a variety of non-portable electronic devices such as a desktop computer, a game machine, a television (TV) and a projector.

The host 102 may include at least one operating system (OS) or a plurality of operating systems. The host 102 may execute an OS to perform an operation corresponding to a user's request on the memory system 110. Here, the host 102 may provide a plurality of commands corresponding to a user's request to the memory system 110. Thus, the memory system 110 may perform certain operations corresponding to the plurality of commands, that is, corresponding to the user's request. The OS may manage and control overall functions and operations of the host 102. The OS may support an operation between the host 102 and a user using the data processing system 100 or the memory system 110.

The memory system 110 may operate or perform a specific function or operation in response to a request from the host 102 and, particularly, may store data to be accessed by the host 102. The memory system 110 may be used as a main memory system or an auxiliary memory system of the host 102. The memory system 110 may be implemented with any one of various types of storage devices, which may be electrically coupled with the host 102, according to a protocol of a host interface. Non-limiting examples of the memory system 110 include a solid state drive (SSD), a multi-media card (MMC) and an embedded MMC (eMMC).

The memory system 110 may include various types of storage devices. Non-limiting examples of such storage devices include volatile memory devices such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and a static RAM (SRAM) and nonvolatile memory devices such as a read only memory (ROM), a mask ROM (MROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), a phase-change RAM (PRAM), a magneto-resistive RAM (MRAM), a resistive RAM (RRAM), and a flash memory. The memory system 110 may include a controller 130 and a memory device 150.

The controller 130 and the memory device 150 may be integrated into a single semiconductor device, which may be included in any of the various types of memory systems as described above. For example, the controller 130 and the memory device 150 may be integrated as a single semiconductor device to constitute an SSD, a personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) card, SD card including a mini-SD, a micro-SD and a SDHC, and an UFS device. The memory system 110 may be configured as a part of a computer, a smart phone, a portable game player, or one of various components configuring a computing system.

The memory device 150 may be a nonvolatile memory device which may retain stored data even though power is not supplied. The memory device 150 may store data provided from the host 102 through a write operation, and output data stored therein to the host 102 through a read operation. In an embodiment, the memory device 150 may include a plurality of memory dies (not shown), and each memory die may include a plurality of planes (not shown). Each plane may include a plurality of memory blocks 152 to 156, each of which may include a plurality of pages, each of which may include a plurality of memory cells coupled to a word line. In an embodiment, the memory device 150 may be a flash memory having a 3-dimensional (3D) stack structure.

The structure of the memory device 150 and the 3D stack structure of the memory device 150 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

The controller 130 may control the memory device 150 in response to a request from the host 102. For example, the controller 130 may provide data read from the memory device 150 to the host 102, and store data provided from the host 102 into the memory device 150. For this operation, the controller 130 may control read, write, program, and erase operations of the memory device 150.

More specifically, the controller 130 may include a host interface (I/F) 132, a processor 134, an error correction code (ECC) unit 138, a power management unit (PMU) 140, a memory interface 142, and a memory 144, all operatively coupled or engaged via an internal bus.

The host interface 132 may process a command and data of the host 102. The host interface 132 may communicate with the host 102 through one or more of various interface protocols such as universal serial bus (USB), multi-media card (MMC), peripheral component interconnect-express (PCI-e or PCIe), small computer system interface (SCSI), serial-attached SCSI (SAS), serial advanced technology attachment (SATA), parallel advanced technology attachment (PATA), enhanced small disk interface (ESDI) and integrated drive electronics (IDE). The host interface 132 may be driven via a firmware, that is, a host interface layer (HIL) for exchanging data with the host 102.

Further, the ECC unit 138 may correct error bits of data to be processed by the memory device 150 and may include an ECC encoder and an ECC decoder. The ECC encoder may perform an error correction encoding on data to be programmed into the memory device 150 to generate data to which a parity bit is added. The data including the parity bit may be stored in the memory device 150. The ECC decoder may detect and correct an error contained in the data read from the memory device 150. The ECC unit 138 may perform error correction through a coded modulation such as a low density parity check (LDPC) code, a Bose-Chaudhri-Hocquenghem (BCH) code, a turbo code, a Reed-Solomon (RS) code, a convolution code, a recursive systematic code (RSC), a trellis-coded modulation (TCM) and a block coded modulation (BCM). However, the ECC unit 138 is not limited to these error correction techniques. As such, the ECC unit 138 may include any and all circuits, modules, systems or devices for performing suitable error correction.

The PMU 140 may manage electrical power used and provided in the controller 130.

The memory interface 142 may serve as a memory or storage interface between the controller 130 and the memory device 150 such that the controller 130 may control the memory device 150 in response to a request from the host 102.

The memory 144 may serve as a working memory of the memory system 110 and the controller 130, and store data for driving the memory system 110 and the controller 130.

The memory 144 may be a volatile memory. For example, the memory 144 may be a static random access memory (SRAM) or dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The memory 144 may be disposed within or external to the controller 130. FIG. 1 shows the memory 144 disposed within the controller 130. In an embodiment, the memory 144 may be an external volatile memory having a memory interface for transferring data between the memory 144 and the controller 130.

As described above, the memory 144 may include a program memory, a data memory, a write buffer/cache, a read buffer/cache, a data buffer/cache and a map buffer/cache to store some data required to perform data write and read operations between the host 102 and the memory device 150 and other data required for the controller 130 and the memory device 150 to perform these operations.

The processor 134 may control overall operations of the memory system 110. The processor 134 may use firmware to control the overall operations of the memory system 110. The firmware may be referred to as a flash translation layer (FTL). The processor 134 may be implemented with a microprocessor or a central processing unit (CPU).

For example, the controller 130 may perform an operation requested by the host 102 in the memory device 150 through the processor 134, which is implemented as a microprocessor, a CPU, or the like. Also, the controller 130 may perform a background operation on the memory device 150 through the processor 134, which may be realized as a microprocessor or a CPU. The background operation performed on the memory device 150 may include an operation of copying and processing data stored in some memory blocks among the memory blocks 152 to 156 of the memory device 150 into other memory blocks, e.g., a garbage collection (GC) operation, an operation of performing swapping between the memory blocks 152 to 156 or between the data of the memory blocks 152 to 156, e.g., a wear-leveling (WL) operation, an operation of storing the map data stored in the controller 130 in the memory blocks 152 to 156, e.g., a map flush operation, or an operation of managing bad blocks of the memory device 150, e.g., a bad block management operation of detecting and processing bad blocks among the memory blocks 152 to 156 in the memory device 150.

The memory device of the memory system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the memory device 150 of the memory system 110 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a memory cell array of a memory block 330 in the memory device 150. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional (3D) structure of the memory device 150.

Referring to FIG. 2, the memory device 150 may include a plurality of memory blocks BLOCK0 to BLOCKN−1, where N is an integer greater than 1. Each of the blocks BLOCK0 to BLOCKN−1 may include a plurality of pages, for example, 2^(M) or M pages, the number of which may vary according to circuit design, M being an integer greater than 1. Each of the pages may include a plurality of memory cells that are coupled to a plurality of word lines WL.

Memory cells in the respective memory blocks BLOCK0 to BLOCKN−1 may be one or more of a single level cell (SLC) memory block storing 1-bit data or a multi-level cell (MLC) memory block storing 2-bit data. Hence, the memory device 150 may include SLC memory blocks or MLC memory blocks, depending on the number of bits which can be expressed or stored in each of the memory cells in the memory blocks. The SLC memory blocks may include a plurality of pages which are embodied by memory cells, each storing one-bit data. The SLC memory blocks may generally have higher data computing performance and higher durability than the MCL memory blocks. The MLC memory blocks may include a plurality of pages which are embodied by memory cells each storing multi-bit data (for example, 2 or more bits). The MLC memory blocks may generally have larger data storage space, that is, higher integration density, than the SLC memory blocks. In another embodiment, the memory device 150 may include a plurality of triple level cell (TLC) memory blocks. In yet another embodiment, the memory device 150 may include a plurality of quadruple level cell (QLC) memory blocks. The TLC memory blocks may include a plurality of pages which are embodied by memory cells each capable of storing 3-bit data. The QLC memory blocks may include a plurality of pages which are embodied by memory cells each capable of storing 4-bit data.

Instead of a nonvolatile memory, the memory device 150 may be implemented by any one of a phase change random access memory (PCRAM), a resistive random access memory (RRAM or ReRAM), a ferroelectrics random access memory (FRAM), and a spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-RAM (STT-MRAM)).

The memory blocks 210, 220, 230, 240 may store the data transferred from the host 102 through a program operation, and may transfer data stored therein to the host 102 through a read operation.

Referring to FIG. 3, the memory block 330 may include a plurality of cell strings 340 coupled to a plurality of corresponding bit lines BL0 to BLm−1. The cell string 340 of each column may include one or more drain select transistors DST and one or more source select transistors SST. Between the drain and source select transistors DST and SST, a plurality of memory cells MC0 to MCn−1 may be coupled in series. In an embodiment, each of the memory cell transistors MC0 to MCn−1 may be embodied by an MLC capable of storing data information of a plurality of bits. Each of the cell strings 340 may be electrically coupled to a corresponding bit line among the plurality of bit lines BL0 to BLm−1. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the first cell string is coupled to the first bit line BL0, and the last cell string is coupled to the last bit line BLm−1.

Although FIG. 3 illustrates NAND flash memory cells, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. It is noted that the memory cells may be NOR flash memory cells, or hybrid flash memory cells including two or more kinds of memory cells combined therein. Also, it is noted that the memory device 150 may be a flash memory device including a conductive floating gate as a charge storage layer or a charge trap flash (CTF) memory device including an insulation layer as a charge storage layer.

The memory device 150 may further include a voltage supply 310 which generates different word line voltages including a program voltage, a read voltage, and a pass voltage to supply to the word lines according to an operation mode. The voltage generation operation of the voltage supply 310 may be controlled by a control circuit (not illustrated). Under the control of the control circuit, the voltage supply 310 may select at least one of the memory blocks (or sectors) of the memory cell array, select at least one of the word lines of the selected memory block, and provide the word line voltages to the selected word line(s) and the unselected word lines as may be needed.

The memory device 150 may include a read and write (read/write) circuit 320 which is controlled by the control circuit. During a verification/normal read operation, the read/write circuit 320 may operate as a sense amplifier for reading (sensing and amplifying) data from the memory cell array. During a program operation, the read/write circuit 320 may operate as a write driver for supplying a voltage or a current to bit lines according to data to be stored in the memory cell array. During a program operation, the read/write circuit 320 may receive from a buffer (not illustrated) data to be stored into the memory cell array, and drive bit lines according to the received data. The read/write circuit 320 may include a plurality of page buffers 322 to 326 respectively corresponding to columns (or bit lines) or column pairs (or bit line pairs). Each of the page buffers 322 to 326 may include a plurality of latches (not illustrated).

The memory device 150 may be embodied by a 2D or 3D memory device. Particularly, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the memory device 150 may be embodied by a nonvolatile memory device having a 3D stack structure. When the memory device 150 has a 3D structure, the memory device 150 may include a plurality of memory blocks BLK0 to BLKN−1. Herein, FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the memory blocks 152, 154 and 156 of the memory device 150 shown in FIG. 1. Each of the memory blocks 152, 154 and 156 may be realized in a 3D structure (or vertical structure). For example, the memory blocks 152, 154 and 156 may include structures of a three-dimensional structure that are extended in first to third directions, e.g., an x-axis direction, a y-axis direction, and a z-axis direction.

Each memory block 330 included in the memory device 150 may include a plurality of NAND strings NS that are extended in the second direction, and a plurality of NAND strings NS that are extended in the first direction and the third direction. Herein, each of the NAND strings NS may be coupled to a bit line BL, at least one string selection line SSL, at least one ground selection line GSL, a plurality of word lines WL, at least one dummy word line DWL, and a common source line CSL, and each of the NAND strings NS may include a plurality of transistor structures TS.

In short, each memory block 330 among the memory blocks 152, 154 and 156 of the memory device 150 may be coupled to a plurality of bit lines BL, a plurality of string selection lines SSL, a plurality of ground selection lines GSL, a plurality of word lines WL, a plurality of dummy word lines DWL, and a plurality of common source lines CSL, and each memory block 330 may include a plurality of NAND strings NS. Also, in each memory block 330, one bit line BL may be coupled to a plurality of NAND strings NS to realize a plurality of transistors in one NAND string NS. Also, a string selection transistor SST of each NAND string NS may be coupled to a corresponding bit line BL, and a ground selection transistor GST of each NAND string NS may be coupled to a common source line CSL. Herein, memory cells MC may be provided between the string selection transistor SST and the ground selection transistor GST of each NAND string NS. In other words, a plurality of memory cells may be realized in each memory block 330 of the memory blocks 152, 154 and 156 of the memory device 150.

The flash memory may perform a program operation and a read operation on a page basis, perform an erase operation on a block basis, and may not support an overwrite operation unlike a hard disk. Therefore, the flash memory may program modified data into a new page and invalidate a page of the original data to modify the original data that are programmed into the page.

The garbage collection operation may refer to an operation of periodically converting the invalidated page into an empty page in order to prevent the flash memory space from being wastefully used due to the invalidated pages in the process of modifying data. The garbage collection operation may include copying the data programmed in a valid page of a victim block into an empty page of a target block. Although the memory space is recovered according to the garbage collection operation, the performance of a foreground operation, which is performed in response to a request from the host 102 of FIG. 1, may be degraded.

The performance of the foreground operation may be prevented from being degraded by decreasing the frequency of performing the garbage collection operation in a situation where a priority is given to the performance of the foreground operation over the acquisition of the memory space. However, in order to decrease the frequency of performing the garbage collection operation, the necessity for acquiring the memory space has to be low, that is, a workload where a victim block is slowly generated needs to be detected.

In case of a workload where user data are intensively programmed in an empty page which is not programmed with data, the number of the valid pages of a closed memory block may be increased according to a program operation, but the number of invalid pages may not be increased. Since a target block for a garbage collection operation, i.e., a victim block, is not created by the program operation, the performance of a foreground operation may be maintained by reducing the frequency of performing a garbage collection operation even though the memory space is insufficient. In various embodiments, the controller 130 may detect the current workload as a workload where user data are intensively programmed in an empty page, when the number of valid pages which is decreased in the closed memory block for a predetermined time is less than a predetermined threshold value.

In various embodiments, the controller 130 may maintain the performance of a foreground operation by detecting workload information based on the ratio of the number (i.e., ΔPGM) of program pages to the total sum (i.e., ΣΔVPC) of the valid page decrease amounts even in a situation where the number of free blocks is insufficient, and dynamically changing the frequency of performing a garbage collection operation.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the memory system 110 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that FIG. 5 shows only the constituent elements related to the present invention in the data processing system 100 of FIG. 1.

As described above, the memory system 110 may include the memory device 150 and the controller 130. The controller 130 may control a program operation of the memory device 150, and perform a garbage collection operation to recover memory space.

Referring to FIG. 5, the controller 130 may include an urgent sensing unit 502, a page counting unit 504, a map updating unit 506, a valid page decrease amount counting unit 508, a workload detecting unit 510, and a garbage collecting unit 512. The urgent sensing unit 502, the page counting unit 504, the map updating unit 506, the valid page decrease amount counting unit 508, the workload detecting unit 510, and the garbage collecting unit 512 include all circuits, systems, software, firmware and devices necessary for their respective operations and functions.

The urgent sensing unit 502 may count the number of free blocks whose number of empty pages is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. When the number of the free blocks is less than a first threshold TH₁ and is greater than or equal to a second threshold TH₂, the urgent sensing unit 502 may transfer a trigger signal Signal_(trig) to the page counting unit 504. When the counted number of the free blocks is less than the second threshold value TH₂, the urgent sensing unit 502 may transfer the trigger signal Signal_(trig) to the garbage collecting unit 512. When the number of the free blocks is less than the second threshold value TH₂, the garbage collecting unit 512 may perform the unconditional garbage collection operation to perform the operation for obtaining the memory space with a priority. This will be described later.

The page counting unit 504 may count the number of valid pages VPC_(Before) of each of the closed memory blocks included in the memory device 150 according to the received trigger signal Signal_(trig). The page counting unit 504 may store the number of the valid pages VPC_(Before) counted for each of the closed memory blocks as a first valid page count number. Each of the closed memory blocks may mean a memory block whose number of valid pages is not ‘0’ and which is not an open block where a current program operation is performed.

Also, the page counting unit 504 may count the number of pages ΔPGM programmed in the open block according to the received trigger signal Signal_(trig) which will be, hereinafter, referred to as the number of program pages ΔPGM. The page counting unit 504 may increase the number of program pages ΔPGM whenever a user data is programmed in a page of the open block from a moment when the trigger signal Signal_(trig) is provided.

The map updating unit 506 may update address information of the user data programmed in a memory block. The map updating unit 506 may periodically update the address which is changed as the original data programmed in the page is modified and changed. The map updating unit 506 may transfer a complete signal Signal_(complete) to the page counting unit 504 when a map updating operation is performed.

The page counting unit 504 may compare the number of program pages ΔPGM that is counted until the complete signal Signal_(complete) is provided with a third threshold value TH₃ according to the complete signal Signal_(complete). When the counted number of program pages ΔPGM is greater than the third threshold value TH₃, the page counting unit 504 may be able to count the number of valid pages VPC_(After) of each of the closed memory blocks included in the memory device 150.

The page counting unit 504 may store the number of valid pages VPC_(After) counted for each of the closed memory blocks as a second valid page count number. The page counting unit 504 may transfer information info_(ΔPGM) about the counted number of program pages which is, hereinafter, referred to as program page count number information, to the workload detecting unit 510. Further, the page counting unit 504 may transfer information info_(VPC) about the stored first and second valid page count numbers which will be, hereinafter, referred to as valid page information, to the valid page decrease amount counting unit 508.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the page counting unit 504 may count the first valid page count number VPC_(Before) to determine whether or not workload from the host 102 of FIG. 1 hereinafter, host workload, is a workload where user data are intensively programmed in an empty page, and count the second valid page count number VPC_(After) after a program operation is performed a predetermined number of times or more. If the second valid page count number VPC_(After) is counted in a state where the program operation is not sufficiently performed after the first valid page count number VPC_(Before) is counted, it is difficult to find out whether the current workload is a workload where user data are intensively programmed in an empty page, even though the total sum ΣΔVPC of valid page decrease amounts is sufficiently small. For example, when the first valid page count number VPC_(Before) is counted, and the second valid page count number VPC_(After) is counted after a program operation is performed five times, even though it turns out that only one valid page is decreased in all the closed memory blocks, it is difficult to determine that the current workload is a workload where user data are intensively programmed in an empty page if all the user data received after the five program operations are programmed in a valid page instead of an empty page.

The valid page decrease amount counting unit 508 may calculate a valid page decrease amount ΔVPC for each closed memory block according to the provided valid page information info_(VPC). The valid page decrease amount counting unit 508 may calculate a difference between the second valid page count number VPC_(After) and the first valid page count number VPC_(Before) as the valid page decrease amount ΔVPC.

The valid page decrease amount counting unit 508 may obtain the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts based on the valid page decrease amount ΔVPC which is calculated for each of the closed memory blocks. The valid page decrease amount counting unit 508 may obtain a sum of a plurality of valid page decrease amounts ΔVPC calculated for each of the closed memory blocks as the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts. The valid page decrease amount counting unit 508 may transfer information info_(ΣΔVPC) about the total sum of the valid page decrease amounts to the workload detecting unit 510.

The workload detecting unit 510 may calculate the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts based on the provided program page count number information info_(ΔPGM) and the information info_(ΣΔVPC) about the total sum of the valid page decrease amounts. The workload detecting unit 510 may obtain the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts by dividing the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts by the number of program pages ΔPGM.

When the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold value TH₄, the workload detecting unit 510 may transfer the trigger signal Signal_(trig) to the garbage collecting unit 512. When the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts is less than the fourth threshold value TH₄, the workload detecting unit 510 may transfer the trigger signal Signal_(trig) to the urgent sensing unit 502. When the number of free blocks is less than the second threshold value TH₂, the urgent sensing unit 502 may transfer the trigger signal Signal_(trig) to the garbage collecting unit 512.

The garbage collecting unit 512 may perform a garbage collection operation onto victim blocks based on the received trigger signal Signal_(trig). According to the embodiment of the present invention, the garbage collecting unit 512 may detect a memory block whose number of the valid pages is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value as a victim block. The garbage collecting unit 512 may copy a data programmed in a valid page of the victim block into an empty page of a target block.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the memory system 110 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, at step S602, the urgent sensing unit 502 of FIG. 5 may compare the number of the free blocks (i.e., #Free BLK) with the first threshold value TH₁ by counting the number of the free blocks. The urgent sensing unit 502 may continuously compare the number of the free blocks with the first threshold value TH₁, when the number of the free blocks is greater than or equal to the first threshold value TH₁ (‘No’ at step S602).

At step S604, when the number of free blocks is less than the first threshold value TH₁ (‘Yes’ at the step S602), the urgent sensing unit 502 may compare the number of free blocks with the second threshold value TH₂. When the number of free blocks is less than the second threshold value TH₂ (‘Yes’ at the step S604), the urgent sensing unit 502 may transfer the trigger signal Signal_(trig) to the garbage collecting unit 512. When the number of the free blocks is greater than or equal to the second threshold value TH₂ (‘No’ at the step S604), the urgent sensing unit 502 may transfer the trigger signal Signal_(trig) to the page counting unit 504. At step S624, the garbage collecting unit 512 may perform a garbage collection operation onto the victim block based on the trigger signal Signal_(trig) provided at the step S604. This will be described later.

FIG. 7 illustrates a garbage collection operation based on the first threshold value and the second threshold value.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a free block may be a block whose number of valid pages is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. For example, when the number of the valid pages included in a particular memory block is 100 or more, the memory block may be a free block.

Referring to case 1 of FIG. 7, when the number of free blocks (# Free BLK) 701 to 750 included in the memory device 150 is 50, and the first threshold value (i.e., 1st Th) TH₁ is 100 and the second threshold value (i.e., 2nd Th) TH₂ is 20, since the number of the free blocks 701 to 750 is less than the first threshold value TH₁ and greater than or equal to the second threshold value TH₂, the urgent sensing unit 502 may transfer the trigger signal Signal_(trig) to the page counting unit 504 in order to determine whether to perform a garbage collection operation or not based on the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts, which will be described later.

In case 2 of FIG. 7, the number of the free blocks (# Free BLK) 751 to 760 included in the memory device 150 is 10 and the first threshold value (i.e., 1st Th) TH₁ is 100 and the second threshold value (i.e., 2nd Th) TH₂ is 20. Since the number of the free blocks 751 to 760 is less than the second threshold value TH₂, the urgent sensing unit 502 may perform a garbage collection operation by providing the trigger signal Signal_(trig) to the garbage collecting unit 512.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the urgent sensing unit 502 may not perform an unconditional garbage collection operation even when the number of free blocks is less than the first threshold value TH₁, and maintain the performance of a foreground operation by skipping a garbage collection operation when the current workload is determined as a workload where user data are intensively programmed in an empty page based on the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts, which will be described later. If any, when the number of free blocks is less than the second threshold value TH₂, it is possible to obtain empty space by performing an unconditional garbage collection operation with the highest priority on the acquisition of the memory space.

Referring back to FIG. 6, at step S606, the page counting unit 504 may count the number of valid pages VPC_(Before) of each of the closed memory blocks included in the memory device 150 according to the trigger signal Signal_(trig) provided at the step S604. The page counting unit 504 may store the number of valid pages VPC_(Before) counted for each of the closed memory blocks as the first valid page count number.

At step S608, the page counting unit 504 may count the number of program pages ΔPGM, which is the number of pages where user data are programmed in an open block, according to the trigger signal Signal_(trig) provided at the step S604. The page counting unit 504 may increase the number of program pages ΔPGM whenever a user data is programmed into a page of the open block from the moment when the trigger signal Signal_(trig) is provided at the step S604.

At step S610, the map updating unit 506 may update the address information of the user data programmed in the memory block. The map updating unit 506 may periodically update the address which is changed as the original data programmed in the page is modified and changed. When a map update operation is performed onto all the memory blocks included in the memory device 150, the map updating unit 506 may transfer a complete signal Signal_(complete) to the page counting unit 504.

At step S612, the page counting unit 504 may compare the number of program pages ΔPGM with the third threshold value TH₃ according to the complete signal Signal_(complete) provided at the step S610. The number of program pages ΔPGM is counted from the moment when the trigger signal Signal_(trig) is provided at the step S604 to the moment when the complete signal Signal_(complete) is provided at the step S610. When the number of program pages counted at the step S612 is less than or equal to the third threshold value TH₃ (‘No’ at the step S612), the page counting unit 504 may go back to the step S608 and repeatedly perform a program operation and the map update operation until the number of program pages ΔPGM in the open block exceeds the third threshold value TH₃.

At step S614, when the number of program pages ΔPGM counted at the step S612 is greater than the third threshold value (‘Yes’ at the step S612), the page counting unit 504 may count the number of valid pages VPC_(After) of each of the closed blocks included in the memory device 150. The page counting unit 504 may store the number of valid pages VPC_(After) counted for each of the closed memory blocks as the second valid page count number. The page counting unit 504 may transfer the program page count number information info_(ΔPGM) to the workload detecting unit 510, and transfer valid page information info_(VPC) to the valid page decrease amount counting unit 508.

At step S616, the valid page decrease amount counting unit 508 may calculate a valid page decrease amount ΣΔVPC for each closed memory block based on the valid page information info_(VPC) provided at the step S614. The valid page decrease amount counting unit 508 may calculate the difference between the second valid page count number VPC_(After) and the first valid page count number VPC_(Before) as the valid page decrease amount ΣΔVPC.

At step S618, the valid page decrease amount counting unit 508 may obtain the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts based on the valid page decrease amount ΔVPC calculated at the step S616. The valid page decrease amount counting unit 508 may obtain a sum of a plurality of valid page decrease amounts ΔVPC calculated for each of the closed memory blocks as the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts. The valid page decrease amount counting unit 508 may transfer the information info_(ΣΔVPC) about the total sum of the valid page decrease amounts to the workload detecting unit 510.

At step S620, the workload detecting unit 510 may calculate the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts based on the program page count number information info_(ΔPGM) provided at the step S614 and the information info_(ΣΔVPC) about the total sum of the valid page decrease amounts provided at the step S618. The workload detecting unit 510 may obtain the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts by dividing the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts by the number of program pages ΔPGM.

At step S622, when the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts, which is obtained at the step S620, is greater than or equal to the fourth threshold value TH₄ (‘No’ at the step S622), the workload detecting unit 510 may transfer the trigger signal Signal_(trig) to the garbage collecting unit 512. When the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts is less than the fourth threshold value TH₄ (‘Yes’ at the step S622), the workload detecting unit 510 may go back to the step S604 and, when the number of free blocks is less than the second threshold value TH₂, transfer the trigger signal Signal_(trig) to the garbage collecting unit 512.

FIG. 8 illustrates a garbage collection operation based on the third and fourth threshold values.

In the case 1 of FIG. 8, when the third and fourth threshold values (i.e., 3rd Th and 4th Th) TH₃ and TH₄ are 500 and 0.1, respectively, and the number of program pages ΔPGM and the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts are 1000 and 50, respectively, the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts is 0.05, which is less than the fourth threshold value TH₄, the workload detecting unit 510 may maintain the performance of a foreground operation by detecting the current workload as a workload where user data are intensively programmed in an empty page and skipping a garbage collection operation.

In case 2 of FIG. 8, when the third and fourth threshold values (i.e., 3rd Th and 4th Th) TH₃ and TH₄ are 500 and 0.1, respectively, and the number of program pages ΔPGM and the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts are 1000 and 200, respectively, the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts is 0.2, which is greater than the fourth threshold value TH₄, the workload detecting unit 510 may transfer the trigger signal Signal_(trig) to the garbage collecting unit 512 and perform a garbage collection operation.

Referring back to FIG. 6, at step S622, the garbage collecting unit 512 may perform a garbage collection operation onto a victim block according to the trigger signal Signal_(trig) provided at the steps S604 and S622. The garbage collecting unit 512 may perform a garbage collection operation by copying the data programmed in a valid page of the victim block into an empty page of a target block and retrieving the memory space of the victim block.

The memory system in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention may not perform an unconditional garbage collection operation when the number of free blocks is less than the first threshold value TH₁, and dynamically change the frequency of performing the garbage collection operation in consideration of the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts.

In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, when the ratio of the number of program pages ΔPGM to the total sum ΣΔVPC of the valid page decrease amounts is less than the fourth threshold value TH₄, the memory system may maintain the performance of a foreground operation in a situation where the number of free blocks is insufficient by determining the current workload as a workload where the empty page is programmed with data and the number of invalid pages is not increased and skipping a garbage collection operation.

Hereafter, a data processing system and electronic devices to which the memory system 110 including the memory device 150 and the controller 130, which are described above by referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 9 to 17.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another example of a data processing system including a memory system in accordance with an embodiment. For example, FIG. 9 illustrates a memory card system 6100 to which the memory system may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 9, the memory card system 6100 may include a memory controller 6120, a memory device 6130 and a connector 6110.

More specifically, the memory controller 6120 may be electrically connected to, and configured to access, the memory device 6130 embodied by a nonvolatile memory (NVM). For example, the memory controller 6120 may be configured to control read, write, erase and background operations of the memory device 6130. The memory controller 6120 may be configured to provide an interface between the memory device 6130 and a host, and to use firmware for controlling the memory device 6130. That is, the memory controller 6120 may correspond to the controller 130 of the memory system 110 described with reference to FIG. 1, and the memory device 6130 may correspond to the memory device 150 of the memory system 110 described with reference to FIG. 1.

Thus, the memory controller 6120 may include a random access memory (RAM), a processor, a host interface, a memory interface and an error correction component.

The memory controller 6120 may communicate with an external device, for example, the host 102 of FIG. 1 through the connector 6110. For example, as described with reference to FIG. 1, the memory controller 6120 may be configured to communicate with an external device through one or more of various communication protocols such as universal serial bus (USB), multimedia card (MMC), embedded MMC (eMMC), peripheral component interconnection (PCI), PCI express (PCIe), advanced technology attachment (ATA), serial-ATA, parallel-ATA, small computer system interface (SCSI), enhanced small disk interface (EDSI), integrated drive electronics (IDE), Firewire, universal flash storage (UFS), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi or WiFi) and Bluetooth. Thus, the memory system and the data processing system in accordance with the present embodiment may be applied to wired/wireless electronic devices or specific mobile electronic devices.

The memory device 6130 may be implemented by a nonvolatile memory (NVM). For example, the memory device 6130 may be implemented by any of various nonvolatile memory devices such as an erasable and programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM), a NAND flash memory, a NOR flash memory, a phase-change RAM (PRAM), a resistive RAM (ReRAM), a ferroelectric RAM (FRAM) and a spin torque transfer magnetic RAM (STT-RAM).

The memory controller 6120 and the memory device 6130 may be integrated into a single semiconductor device to form a solid-state driver (SSD). Also, the memory controller 6120 and the memory device 6130 may be so integrated to form a memory card such as a PC card (personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA)), a compact flash (CF) card, a smart media card (e.g., a SM and a SMC), a memory stick, a multimedia card (e.g., a MMC, a RS-MMC, a MMCmicro and an eMMC), a secure digital (SD) card (e.g., a SD, a miniSD, a microSD and a SDHC), and/or a universal flash storage (UFS).

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of a data processing system 6200 including a memory system in accordance with an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 10, the data processing system 6200 may include a memory device 6230 having one or more nonvolatile memories (NVMs) and a memory controller 6220 for controlling the memory device 6230. The data processing system 6200 illustrated in FIG. 10 may serve as a storage medium such as a memory card (e.g., CF, SD, micro-SD or the like) or USB device, as described with reference to FIG. 1. The memory device 6230 may correspond to the memory device 150 in the memory system 110 illustrated in FIG. 1, and the memory controller 6220 may correspond to the controller 130 in the memory system 110 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The memory controller 6220 may control a read, write or erase operation on the memory device 6230 in response to a request of the host 6210. The memory controller 6220 may include one or more central processing units (CPUs) 6221, a buffer memory such as a random access memory (RAM) 6222, an error correction code (ECC) circuit 6223, a host interface 6224 and a memory interface such as a nonvolatile memory (NVM) interface 6225.

The CPU 6221 may control overall operations on the memory device 6230, for example, read, write, file system management and bad page management operations. The RAM 6222 may be operated according to control of the CPU 6221, and used as a work memory, buffer memory or cache memory. When the RAM 6222 is used as a work memory, data processed by the CPU 6221 may be temporarily stored in the RAM 6222. When the RAM 6222 is used as a buffer memory, the RAM 6222 may be used for buffering data transmitted to the memory device 6230 from the host 6210 or vice versa. When the RAM 6222 is used as a cache memory, the RAM 6222 may assist the low-speed memory device 6230 to operate at high speed.

The ECC circuit 6223 may correspond to the ECC unit 138 of the controller 130 illustrated in FIG. 1. As described with reference to FIG. 1, the ECC circuit 6223 may generate an error correction code (ECC) for correcting a failed bit or error bit of data provided from the memory device 6230. The ECC circuit 6223 may perform error correction encoding on data provided to the memory device 6230, thereby forming data with a parity bit. The parity bit may be stored in the memory device 6230. The ECC circuit 6223 may perform error correction decoding on data outputted from the memory device 6230. The ECC circuit 6223 may correct an error using the parity bit. For example, as described with reference to FIG. 1, the ECC circuit 6223 may correct an error using the low density parity check (LDPC) code, Bose-Chaudhri-Hocquenghem (BCH) code, turbo code, Reed-Solomon (RS) code, convolution code, recursive systematic code (RSC) or coded modulation such as trellis coded modulation (TCM) or block coded modulation (BCM).

The memory controller 6220 may transmit/receive data to/from the host 6210 through the host interface 6224. The memory controller 6220 may transmit/receive data to/from the memory device 6230 through the NVM interface 6225. The host interface 6224 may be connected to the host 6210 through a parallel advanced technology attachment (PATA) bus, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus, a small computer system interface (SCSI), a universal serial bus (USB), a peripheral component interconnect-express (PCIe) or a NAND interface. The memory controller 6220 may have a wireless communication function with a mobile communication protocol such as wireless fidelity (WiFi) or long term evolution (LTE). The memory controller 6220 may be connected to an external device, for example, the host 6210 or another external device, and then transmit/receive data to/from the external device. In particular, as the memory controller 6220 is configured to communicate with the external device according to one or more of various communication protocols, the memory system and the data processing system in accordance with an embodiment may be applied to wired/wireless electronic devices, particularly a mobile electronic device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of a data processing system including a memory system in accordance with an embodiment. For example, FIG. 11 illustrates a solid state drive (SSD) 6300 to which the memory system may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 11, the SSD 6300 may include a controller 6320 and a memory device 6340 including a plurality of nonvolatile memories (NVMs). The controller 6320 may correspond to the controller 130 in the memory system 110 of FIG. 1, and the memory device 6340 may correspond to the memory device 150 in the memory system of FIG. 1.

More specifically, the controller 6320 may be connected to the memory device 6340 through a plurality of channels CH1 to CHi. The controller 6320 may include one or more processors 6321, an error correction code (ECC) circuit 6322, a host interface 6324, a buffer memory 6325 and a memory interface, for example, a nonvolatile memory interface 6326.

The buffer memory 6325 may temporarily store data provided from the host 6310 or data provided from a plurality of flash memories NVM included in the memory device 6340. Further, the buffer memory 6325 may temporarily store meta data of the plurality of flash memories NVM, for example, map data including a mapping table. The buffer memory 6325 may be embodied by any of a variety of volatile memories such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), a double data rate (DDR) SDRAM, a low power DDR (LPDDR) SDRAM and a graphics RAM (GRAM) or nonvolatile memories such as a ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), a resistive RAM (RRAM or ReRAM), a spin-transfer torque magnetic RAM (STT-MRAM) and a phase-change RAM (PRAM). FIG. 11 illustrates that the buffer memory 6325 is embodied in the controller 6320. However, the buffer memory 6325 may be external to the controller 6320.

The ECC circuit 6322 may calculate an error correction code (ECC) value of data to be programmed to the memory device 6340 during a program operation, perform an error correction operation on data read from the memory device 6340 based on the ECC value during a read operation, and perform an error correction operation on data recovered from the memory device 6340 during a failed data recovery operation.

The host interface 6324 may provide an interface function with an external device, for example, the host 6310, and the nonvolatile memory interface 6326 may provide an interface function with the memory device 6340 connected through the plurality of channels.

Furthermore, a plurality of SSDs 6300 to which the memory system 110 of FIG. 1 may be applied may be provided to embody a data processing system, for example, a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) system. The RAID system may include the plurality of SSDs 6300 and a RAID controller for controlling the plurality of SSDs 6300. When the RAID controller performs a program operation in response to a write command provided from the host 6310, the RAID controller may select one or more memory systems or SSDs 6300 according to a plurality of RAID levels, that is, RAID level information of the write command provided from the host 6310 in the SSDs 6300, and output data corresponding to the write command to the selected SSDs 6300. Furthermore, when the RAID controller performs a read command in response to a read command provided from the host 6310, the RAID controller may select one or more memory systems or SSDs 6300 according to a plurality of RAID levels, that is, RAID level information of the read command provided from the host 6310 in the SSDs 6300, and provide data read from the selected SSDs 6300 to the host 6310.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another example of a data processing system including a memory system in accordance with an embodiment. For example, FIG. 12 illustrates an embedded multi-media card (eMMC) 6400 to which the memory system may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 12, the eMMC 6400 may include a controller 6430 and a memory device 6440 embodied by one or more NAND flash memories. The controller 6430 may correspond to the controller 130 in the memory system 110 of FIG. 1. The memory device 6440 may correspond to the memory device 150 in the memory system 110 of FIG. 1.

More specifically, the controller 6430 may be connected to the memory device 6440 through a plurality of channels. The controller 6430 may include one or more cores 6432, a host interface 6431 and a memory interface, for example, a NAND interface 6433.

The core 6432 may control overall operations of the eMMC 6400, the host interface 6431 may provide an interface function between the controller 6430 and the host 6410, and the NAND interface 6433 may provide an interface function between the memory device 6440 and the controller 6430. For example, the host interface 6431 may serve as a parallel interface, for example, MMC interface as described with reference to FIG. 1. Furthermore, the host interface 6431 may serve as a serial interface, for example, ultra high speed (UHS)-I/UHS-II) interface.

FIGS. 13 to 16 are diagrams illustrating other examples of a data processing system including a memory system in accordance with embodiments. For example, FIGS. 13 to 16 illustrate universal flash storage (UFS) systems to which the memory system may be applied.

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 16, the UFS systems 6500, 6600, 6700, 6800 may include hosts 6510, 6610, 6710, 6810, UFS devices 6520, 6620, 6720, 6820 and UFS cards 6530, 6630, 6730, 6830, respectively. The hosts 6510, 6610, 6710, 6810 may serve as application processors of wired/wireless electronic devices or particularly mobile electronic devices, the UFS devices 6520, 6620, 6720, 6820 may serve as embedded UFS devices, and the UFS cards 6530, 6630, 6730, 6830 may serve as external embedded UFS devices or removable UFS cards.

The hosts 6510, 6610, 6710, 6810, the UFS devices 6520, 6620, 6720, 6820 and the UFS cards 6530, 6630, 6730, 6830 in the respective UFS systems 6500, 6600, 6700, 6800 may communicate with external devices, for example, wired/wireless electronic devices or particularly mobile electronic devices through UFS protocols, and the UFS devices 6520, 6620, 6720, 6820 and the UFS cards 6530, 6630, 6730, 6830 may be embodied by the memory system 110 illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, in the UFS systems 6500, 6600, 6700, 6800, the UFS devices 6520, 6620, 6720, 6820 may be embodied in the form of the data processing system 6200, the SSD 6300 or the eMMC 6400 described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12, and the UFS cards 6530, 6630, 6730, 6830 may be embodied in the form of the memory card system 6100 described with reference to FIG. 9.

Furthermore, in the UFS systems 6500, 6600, 6700, 6800, the hosts 6510, 6610, 6710, 6810, the UFS devices 6520, 6620, 6720, 6820 and the UFS cards 6530, 6630, 6730, 6830 may communicate with each other through an UFS interface, for example, MIPI M-PHY and MIPI unified protocol (UniPro) in mobile industry processor interface (MIPI). Furthermore, the UFS devices 6520, 6620, 6720, 6820 and the UFS cards 6530, 6630, 6730, 6830 may communicate with each other through any of various protocols other than the UFS protocol, for example, universal storage bus (USB) Flash Drives (UFDs), a multi-media card (MMC), a secure digital (SD), a mini-SD, and a micro-SD.

In the UFS system 6500 illustrated in FIG. 13, each of the host 6510, the UFS device 6520 and the UFS card 6530 may include UniPro. The host 6510 may perform a switching operation to communicate with the UFS device 6520 and the UFS card 6530. In particular, the host 6510 may communicate with the UFS device 6520 or the UFS card 6530 through link layer switching, for example, L3 switching at the UniPro. The UFS device 6520 and the UFS card 6530 may communicate with each other through link layer switching at the UniPro of the host 6510. In the illustrated embodiment, one UFS device 6520 and one UFS card 6530 are connected to the host 6510. However, a plurality of UFS devices and UFS cards may be connected in parallel or in the form of a star to the host 6410. A star formation is an arrangement in which a single device is coupled with plural devices for centralized operation. A plurality of UFS cards may be connected in parallel or in the form of a star to the UFS device 6520 or connected in series or in the form of a chain to the UFS device 6520.

In the UFS system 6600 illustrated in FIG. 14, each of the host 6610, the UFS device 6620 and the UFS card 6630 may include UniPro. The host 6610 may communicate with the UFS device 6620 or the UFS card 6630 through a switching module 6640 performing a switching operation, for example, through the switching module 6640 which performs link layer switching at the UniPro, for example, L3 switching. The UFS device 6620 and the UFS card 6630 may communicate with each other through link layer switching of the switching module 6640 at UniPro. In the illustrated embodiment, one UFS device 6620 and one UFS card 6630 are connected to the switching module 6640. However, a plurality of UFS devices and UFS cards may be connected in parallel or in the form of a star to the switching module 6640. A plurality of UFS cards may be connected in series or in the form of a chain to the UFS device 6620.

In the UFS system 6700 illustrated in FIG. 15, each of the host 6710, the UFS device 6720 and the UFS card 6730 may include UniPro. The host 6710 may communicate with the UFS device 6720 or the UFS card 6730 through a switching module 6740 performing a switching operation, for example, through the switching module 6740 which performs link layer switching at the UniPro, for example, L3 switching. The UFS device 6720 and the UFS card 6730 may communicate with each other through link layer switching of the switching module 6740 at the UniPro. The switching module 6740 may be integrated as one module with the UFS device 6720 inside or outside the UFS device 6720. In the illustrated embodiment, one UFS device 6720 and one UFS card 6730 are connected to the switching module 6740. However, a plurality of modules, each including the switching module 6740 and the UFS device 6720, may be connected in parallel or in the form of a star to the host 6710. In another example, a plurality of modules may be connected in series or in the form of a chain to each other. Furthermore, a plurality of UFS cards may be connected in parallel or in the form of a star to the UFS device 6720.

In the UFS system 6800 illustrated in FIG. 16, each of the host 6810, the UFS device 6820 and the UFS card 6830 may include M-PHY and UniPro. The UFS device 6820 may perform a switching operation to communicate with the host 6810 and the UFS card 6830. In particular, the UFS device 6820 may communicate with the host 6810 or the UFS card 6830 through a switching operation between the M-PHY and UniPro module for communication with the host 6810 and the M-PHY and UniPro module for communication with the UFS card 6830, for example, through a target identifier (ID) switching operation. The host 6810 and the UFS card 6830 may communicate with each other through target ID switching between the M-PHY and UniPro modules of the UFS device 6820. In the illustrated embodiment, one UFS device 6820 is connected to the host 6810 and one UFS card 6830 is connected to the UFS device 6820. However, a plurality of UFS devices may be connected in parallel or in the form of a star to the host 6810, or connected in series or in the form of a chain to the host 6810. A plurality of UFS cards may be connected in parallel or in the form of a star to the UFS device 6820, or connected in series or in the form of a chain to the UFS device 6820.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating another example of a data processing system including a memory system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For example, FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a user system 6900 to which the memory system may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 17, the user system 6900 may include a user interface 6910, a memory module 6920, an application processor 6930, a network module 6940 and a storage module 6950.

More specifically, the application processor 6930 may drive components in the user system 6900, for example, an operating system (OS), and include controllers, interfaces and a graphic engine which control the components included in the user system 6900. The application processor 6930 may be provided as System-on-Chip (SoC).

The memory module 6920 may be used as a main memory, work memory, buffer memory or cache memory of the user system 6900. The memory module 6920 may include a volatile random access memory (RAM) such as a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), a double data rate (DDR) SDRAM, a DDR2 SDRAM, a DDR3 SDRAM, a low power DDR (LPDDR) SDARM, a LPDDR3 SDRAM or a LPDDR3 SDRAM or a nonvolatile RAM such as a phase-change RAM (PRAM), a resistive RAM (ReRAM), a magneto-resistive RAM (MRAM) or a ferroelectric RAM (FRAM). For example, the application processor 6930 and the memory module 6920 may be packaged and mounted, based on package on package (PoP).

The network module 6940 may communicate with external devices. For example, the network module 6940 may not only support wired communication, but also support various wireless communication protocols such as code division multiple access (CDMA), global system for mobile communication (GSM), wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA-2000, time division multiple access (TDMA), long term evolution (LTE), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), wireless local area network (WLAN), ultra-wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, wireless display (WI-DI), thereby communicating with wired/wireless electronic devices, particularly mobile electronic devices. Therefore, the memory system and the data processing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, can be applied to wired/wireless electronic devices. The network module 6940 may be included in the application processor 6930.

The storage module 6950 may store data, for example, data received from the application processor 6930, and then may transmit the stored data to the application processor 6930. The storage module 6950 may be embodied by a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device such as a phase-change RAM (PRAM), a magnetic RAM (MRAM), a resistive RAM (ReRAM), a NAND flash, a NOR flash and a 3D NAND flash, and provided as a removable storage medium such as a memory card or external drive of the user system 6900. The storage module 6950 may correspond to the memory system 110 described with reference to FIG. 1. Furthermore, the storage module 6950 may be embodied as an SSD, an eMMC and an UFS as described above with reference to FIGS. 11 to 16.

The user interface 6910 may include interfaces for inputting data or commands to the application processor 6930 or outputting data to an external device. For example, the user interface 6910 may include user input interfaces such as a keyboard, a keypad, a button, a touch panel, a touch screen, a touch pad, a touch ball, a camera, a microphone, a gyroscope sensor, a vibration sensor and a piezoelectric element, and user output interfaces such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, an active matrix OLED (AMOLED) display device, an LED, a speaker and a motor.

Furthermore, when the memory system 110 of FIG. 1 is applied to a mobile electronic device of the user system 6900, the application processor 6930 may control overall operations of the mobile electronic device, and the network module 6940 may serve as a communication module for controlling wired/wireless communication with an external device. The user interface 6910 may display data processed by the processor 6930 on a display/touch module of the mobile electronic device, or support a function of receiving data from the touch panel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a memory system may improve the performance of a foreground operation by dynamically changing the cycle of a garbage collection operation based on a host workload.

While the present invention has been described with respect to the specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A memory system, comprising: a memory device including an open block and a closed memory block; a page counting unit suitable for counting the number of program pages in the open block whenever a data is programmed in the open block, and counting the number of valid pages of the closed memory block; a valid page decrease amount counting unit suitable for calculating a total sum of valid pages decreased in the closed memory block before and after a map update operation; and a garbage collecting unit suitable for performing a garbage collection operation onto a victim block when the number of free blocks included in the memory device is less than a first threshold value and greater than a second threshold value, and a ratio of the number of the program pages in the open block to the total sum of the valid pages decreased is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold value.
 2. The memory system of claim 1, further comprising: an urgent sensing unit suitable for counting the number of the free blocks and comparing the number of the free blocks with the first and second threshold values, respectively.
 3. The memory system of claim 2, wherein the garbage collecting unit performs the garbage collection operation onto the victim block when the number of the free blocks is less than the second threshold value.
 4. The memory system of claim 2, wherein the page counting unit counts the number of valid pages before an initial map update operation is performed when the number of the free blocks is less than the first threshold value and greater than the second threshold value, and counts the number of valid pages after a final map update operation is performed when the number of the program pages of the open block exceeds a third threshold value.
 5. The memory system of claim 1, wherein the valid page decrease amount counting unit counts the number of the valid pages decreased before and after the map update operation for each closed memory block.
 6. The memory system of claim 5, wherein the total sum of the number of the valid pages decreased in the closed memory block includes a sum of valid page decrease amounts counted for each closed memory block.
 7. The memory system of claim 2, wherein the free block is a block whose number of empty pages is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.
 8. The memory system of claim 1, wherein the open block includes a memory block where a program operation is being performed.
 9. The memory system of claim 8, wherein the closed memory block includes a memory block whose number of valid pages is not zero and which is not the open block.
 10. The memory system of claim 1, wherein the garbage collecting unit performs the garbage collection operation by copying a valid data of the victim block into an empty page of a target block.
 11. A method for operating a memory system, comprising: counting the number of program pages in an open block whenever a data is programmed in the open block, and counting the number of valid pages of a closed memory block; calculating a total sum of valid pages decreased in the closed memory block before and after a map update operation; and performing a garbage collection operation onto a victim block when the number of free blocks included in the memory device is less than a first threshold value and greater than a second threshold value, and a ratio of the number of the program pages in the open block to the total sum of the valid pages decreased is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold value.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: counting the number of the free blocks and comparing the number of the free blocks with the first and second threshold values, respectively.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the performing of the garbage collection operation includes performing the garbage collection operation onto the victim block when the number of the free blocks is less than the second threshold value.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the counting of the number of program pages includes counting the number of valid pages before an initial map update operation is performed when the number of the free blocks is less than the first threshold value and greater than the second threshold value, and the number of valid pages after a final map update operation is performed is counted when the number of the program pages of the open block exceeds a third threshold value.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the calculating of the total sum of the valid pages decreased in the closed memory block before and after the map update operation includes counting the number of the valid pages decreased before and after the map update operation for each closed memory block.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the total sum of the number of the valid pages decreased in the closed memory block includes a sum of valid page decrease amounts counted for each closed memory block.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the free block is a block whose number of empty pages is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the open block includes a memory block where a program operation is being performed.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the closed memory block includes a memory block whose number of valid pages is not zero and which is not the open block.
 20. The method of claim 11, wherein the performing of the garbage collection operation includes performing the garbage collection operation by copying a valid data of the victim block into an empty page of a target block. 